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Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing

The family announced they will arrange a Celebration of Life service and a 5K run in her honour

Andrea Cavallier
Friday 11 August 2023 13:37 BST
Rachel Morin's boyfriend speaks out about her death

The mother of Rachel Morin has broken her silence with a plea for compassion as the family takes time to grieve the “sudden and tragic” loss of the 37-year-old whose body was found after she vanished while going for a jog on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air.

“We are grieving. We need the time and space to grieve as a family. We have not forgotten our community,” the post read.

“We just need time. . . I need time. It has only been 4 days since we received the horrific news. I ask that as mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, that you would please have compassion on us and allow us this.”

Morin was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail at around 6pm Saturday. Her boyfriend Richard Tobin reported her missing that night after she failed to return home. Morin’s body was found the following day, and her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The heartfelt letter, which was shared on Thursday in a post on the Facebook page of Rachel Morin’s sister Rebekah, thanked the community for its support and announced that a Celebration of Life service and a 5K run would be held in Morin’s honour thanks to the money raised.

“Because of the tremendous outpouring of prayers, love and concern, our family is in the process of making arrangements for a Celebration of Life service to which friends and the community will be invited (more details to come),” the family wrote.

Rachel Morin was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail at around 6pm Saturday. Her body was found the following day
Rachel Morin was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail at around 6pm Saturday. Her body was found the following day (GoFundme)

“And because Rachel was an avid runner, we are in the early stages of planning a 5K walk/run in her honor with the hope of having a trail of flowers.”

The GoFundMe goal amount was raised to $65,000 to help pay for the arrangements and it has raised $41,612 as of Thursday.

“If you have experienced the loss of a dear loved one, then you know how hard it can be to express the pain that you feel in your heart. When it’s sudden and tragic, your mind looks for ways to cope,” the letter continued.

Morin’s mother breaks her silence with a post on Facebook asking compassion and time to grieve
Morin’s mother breaks her silence with a post on Facebook asking compassion and time to grieve (Rebekah Morin/Facebook)

“As a mom, I appreciate the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the worldwide community that grieves with me for my young daughter. Thank you for caring. Truly.”

Morin’s family shared the letter with the update just a day after the Hartford County Sheriff Jeffery Gahler vowed to bring the “heinous coward” who killed Morin to justice.

He also confirmed police had yet to identify a “solid suspect” but said detectives have been working around the clock and that some of the “more than 100 tips” that have been submitted by the public “have been promising”.

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